Rob Lang's Blog

Friday, September 28, 2012

Never Forgotten

With Yom Kippur concluding at sundown this past Wednesday,
the High Holy Day Period has ended for Jews around the world.

It is a ten day period of personal reflection, asking God
for forgiveness for your sins for the past year, and it is believed that God
seals your fate for the coming year.

It is also a time where you remember those who have lost.
You are supposed to pay a visit to the graves of family members during this
period.

The family, friends and former colleagues of Baltimore City
Police Officer Ira Weiner made such a visit this past Sunday.There was a special ceremony to mark Ira’s 20th
Yahrtzeit, the anniversary of his death.

As we reported, Weiner was shot and killed responding to a
standoff in West Baltimore, 20 years ago this month. The suspect, Louis Thomas,
attacked Weiner with an ice pick, grabbed his gun and shot him.Minutes later, other officers arriving on the
scene shot and killed Thomas.

Weiner’s father Murray requested the ceremony, so that his
friends and colleagues in law enforcement would not forget him. Members of the
Shomrim Society, a fraternal group of Jewish law enforcement officers,
organized the event.

Major Cliff McWhite, who is the commander of the Western
District where Weiner worked, spoke at Sunday’s ceremony.McWhite never knew Ira Weiner, but says he is
still learning from him.McWhite says
Weiner’s devotion to the people in the neighborhoods he patrolled, and to his
fellow officerwas inspiring.

A number of officers noted that Weiner was killed in a row
house on Mulberry Street, because he went into the house without waiting for
backup officers to respond.Terry
Hendrickson, who was one of those backup officers that day, later became an
instructor for the Baltimore City Police.At the service, he noted that young officers are now instructed to wait
for backup, unless someone’s life is in immediate danger.Hendrickson did note that even with backup
officers responding, sometimes lives are lost.He pointed out that the officers who responded fought the suspect for 12
minutes, before he was finally shot and killed.

Other officers remembered an outgoing, gregarious
colleague.Now police Det. Urica Jones
recalled a fellow officer who it seemed everyone liked.A number of officers recalled how Weiner
loved his fellow officers like brothers and sisters.

They also remembered an avid pool player.In the break room of the Western District,
there’s a pool table.Hanging on the
wall next to it, is Ira Weiner’s picture in a glass case, along with his pool
cue.It is a fitting tribute.

Murray Weiner told me he doesn’t want his son to be
forgotten.It appears after twenty
years, there’s little chance that will ever happen.